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April 15, 2017
Great Vigil of Easter Read Mark 15:42–47 My Lord, I was complicit in your death. I knew you were the Messiah, but I allowed fear to keep me from openly following you. I listened as my brothers on the Sanhedrin plotted your downfall. I permitted them to purchase your life for 30 silver pieces. I stood… Read more »
April 14, 2017
Out of Chaos By Becky Lindsay Who could have predicted That out of the chaos that was the Passion— The incident of betrayal by a brother, The apathy of somnolent friends, Denial and desertion by those dearest, The iterations of humiliations and hatred, The multiple occasions of accusations, The repetitions of rough-handling, Flailings, floggings with… Read more »
April 14, 2017
Good Friday Read Matthew 27:45–54 When you earn your livelihood overseeing crucifixions, you eventually go numb. It’s a matter of survival. But today’s events terrified even me. I’m used to dealing with slaves and criminals. Flog them, nail them to a crossbeam, and you’ll always get some colorful words out of them. Not this “king of… Read more »
April 13, 2017
Maundy Thursday Read Luke 22:47–53 I’m following orders, but everything about this is wrong. Roman guards and the high priest’s coterie don’t take orders from commoners. We don’t make arrests without charges. And trials aren’t held in the dead of night. Yet here we stand, hundreds of us interspersed among olive trees, watching Judas kiss his… Read more »
April 12, 2017
Wednesday of Holy Week Read John 12:4-8 I’ve followed that fatherless rabbi for three years. I’ve lost count of my hungry stomachs, blistered feet, and bouts of seasickness. I’ve put up with lepers, prostitutes, cripples, and Samaritans — all in vain hope that this imbecile would deliver Israel. Who was I kidding? Jesus rescuing our nation… Read more »
April 11, 2017
Long live life A Revised Common Lectionary resource for April 16 by Magdalena I. García “He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.’ —Matthew 28:6a Read the full lectionary passages here They accused him of being a party animal because he shared the table with all kinds of people, but Jesus… Read more »
April 11, 2017
Tuesday of Holy Week Read John 12:1–3 As our master shared our table, a wave of love and devotion crested over me. I knew what I must do. I retrieved the container of perfume our family purchased from Parthian traders years ago; we’d been saving it for a momentous occasion, and I could see none more… Read more »
April 10, 2017
Monday of Holy Week Read John 12:20–26 Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a Greek name. Apparently I must have Greek features, too, because today I got stopped by a group of Greeks. Again. We’re in the Court of the Gentiles, and some God-fearers single me out and ask if they could meet Jesus. I snag… Read more »
April 9, 2017
Passion/Palm Sunday Read Mark 12:41–44 I pick my way through Passover crowds — this time of year, the temple is always packed. Through the cacophony, I convince myself that I can hear the priests’ voices as they’re consecrating sacrifices. Even through the ruin my life has become, I can depend on this place. I married young… Read more »
April 8, 2017
Saturday of the Fifth Sunday in Lent Read Mark 11:15–18 We’ve conducted business in the Court of the Gentiles for years; it’s convenient for Jewish worshipers who travel long distances. Where else might they exchange profane Roman money or buy clean sacrificial animals? Yes, we charge a markup, but how else shall we make our living?… Read more »